I am not allowed to love you.
And so I do not.
I do, however,
Love the way you greet me.
I love the way you laugh.
I love how angry you get
When the radio plays the wrong song.
I love your teeth.
I love your conviction.
I love how paranoid
You can be at times.
I love the way you love to live.
I love your angry fits.
I love the way you talk about others.
I love how happy you get
When recalling random stories.
I love your confidence.
I love your strange habits.
I love how fearless you are.
I love the way
You defend until it destroys you.
I love it.
I love it all.

I am not allowed to love you.
And so I do not.
There is, however,
A small, timid part of me
That would love for you to read this
So you could know
How much I really do.